Scribing tool for timber



Jan. 22, 1963 H. B. CRAWFORD scmme TOOL FOR TIMBER Filed May 17, 1960 cky Hul uvmvrm 171/614 5. 62A n Faeo By M ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed May 17, 1960, Ser. No. 29,602 2 Claims. (Cl. 33-47) This invention relates to a scribing tool, and it more particularly relates to a scribing tool for marking trees during a survey.

It has long been the practice in survey work to mark certain bearing trees with circles and lines to indicate certain information. However, the type of tools used in times past are not usually appropriate today because of the difference in the average size of the. trees.

In former times, when the forests were still usually virgin, the average trees encountered were very old and, therefore, quite large in diameter. Today, when the virgin forests have usually all been cut down and replaced by relatively new plantings, the trees are, on the average, younger and smaller. Consequently, tools which circumscribe a large circle and were appropriate for the older trees are not appropriate for todays trees which require smaller circles in the markings.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a scribing tool which is adapted to easily and effectively circumscribe a relatively small circle or are on a tree.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the aforesaid type which cannot only circumscribe a small are or circle but which is adapted to easily and effectively enscribe straight lines in combination with the arcs or circles, thus providing numerals and letters when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the aforesaid type which is simple in structure, light in weight and easy to handle.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved scribing tool, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

PEG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tree with a scribing tool embodying the present invention in operative position on a debarked portion of the tree.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed, side elevational view of the scribing tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, detailed, elevational view of the scribing end of the tool.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a scribing tool, generally designated 10, comprising a stem or handle 12 of hollow construction and tapered from a relatively wide rear end to a relatively narrow front end. The handle 12 is preferably made of cast aluminum or the like, although any other desirable material which is feasible for the task can be used.

The front end of the handle 12 consists of a solid portion 14 of generally cylindrical shape, this portion 14 being centrally apertured to form an axial bore. Within this bore is adapted to be held a pin 16 which is pointed at both ends (as best shown in FIG. 3). Since this pin 16 is identical at both ends and is cylindrical at 3,974,171 Patented Jan. 22, 1953 its intermediate portion, it can be reversed, end-for-end within the central bore. In this manner, if one pointed end should become blunted or damaged, the opposite end may be easily utilized.

The pin 16 is releasably and adjustably retained within the central bore of portion 14 by means of countersunk setscrews 18 which can be manipulated by an Allen wrench. This arrangement not only permits easy release of the pin 16 for changing or reversing but also permits longitudinal adjustment thereof.

On one portion of the periphery of the cylindrical portion 14 is provided a longitudinal recess 20 intersected by a pair of tapped holes. Each of these holes is adapted to receive an anchoring screw 22, these screws 22 serving to releasably hold a cutting blade 24, having a hooked cutting head 26 beveled as at 25 to opposite knife edges 27 in the recess 2% The blade 24 extends spaced from but substantially parallel to the pointed pin 16.

Also provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 14 are a pair of angular recesses 28. These recesses 28 are provided on opposite sides of the portion 14 approximately degrees offset from the recess 249. These recesses 28 extend at a predetermined angle toward the front of the portion 14 and are each intersected by a pair of tapped holes to receive anchoring screws 30 for holding a cutting blade 32. in the corresponding recess 23. The blade 32 is identical and interchangeable with the blade 24- and is provided with a similar hooked cutting head 34. The blade 32 may be used alternately either in one or the other recesses 28 depending on how the tool is being used.

The rear end of the handle 12 is open and is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded plug portion 36 integral with a convex cap 38 having a knurled peripheral portion 453. A shoulder is formed between the cap 38 and plug portion 36 and this shoulder is adapted to seat against the end of the handle 12. A brass lock washer 42 is provided between the shoulder of the cap 38 and the end of the handle 12.

The cap 38and plug portion 36 are centrally apertured, as at 44- and 46 respectively, for receiving a lanyard or cable 47 by which it may be secured to the operator to prevent loss thereof. The hollow interior of the handle 12 is used to hold spare cutting blades, pins, and an Allen wrench, as Well as other small items as desired.

In using the scribing tool 10, a tree, such as shown at 48, is debarked, as at 50, and the pointed end of pin 16 is inserted in the debarked portion. The tool 10 is then rotated, with the pin 16 serving as the center of rotation, to form an are or circle. In this action, the curved cutting head 25 forms as deep and wide cut as desired, depending on the depth of insertion of the pin 16. In similar manner, the curved cutting head 34 of blade 32 is used to form straight cuts by mere manipulation of the handle 12. By combining the various types of arcs or circles with selected straight lines, any desired numbers, letters or symbols may be made.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A timber scribing tool comprising an elongated tapered handle of hollow construction and provided with one open wide end and one substantially closed narrow end, said open wide end being internally threaded, a removable knurled cap provided with a plug portion having external threads to mate with said internally threaded wide end, said substantially closed end being provided with a central aperture leading into the hollow interior of said handle, a pin releasably held in said central aperture with one end of the pin extending into said hollow interior and the other end of the pin projecting forwardly of said handle, said pin being pointed at both of its ends, at least one set-screw extending laterally through a threaded hole in said closed end and releasably bearing against said pin, a cutting blade havinga'curved cutting head forming a double cutting edge, said blade extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said pin, said blade having one portion thereof seated in a longitudinally extending recess on the outer periphery of said closed end, and a second cutting blade having a similar curved cutting head, said second blade having one portion thereof seated in a second recess on the outer periphery of said closed end and extending angularly relative to said pin and approximately 90 degrees oiiset from said first blade.

2. A timber scribing tool comprising an elongated handle of hollow construction and provided with one open end and one substantially closed end, a removable cap provided with a plug portion mating with and secured to said open end, said substantially closed end being provided with a central aperture leading into the hollow interior of said handle, a pin releasably held in said central aperture with one end of the pin extending into said hollow interior and the other end of the pin projecting forwardly of said handle, said pin being pointed, at least one set-screw extending laterally through a threaded hole in said closed end and releasably bearing against said pin, a cutting blade having a curved cutting head forming a cutting edge, said blade extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said pin, said blade having one portion thereof seated in a longitudinally extending recess on the outer periphery of said closed end, and a second cutting blade having a similar curved cutting head, said second blade having one portion thereof seated in a second recess on the outer periphery of said closed end and extending angularly relative to said pin and approximately 90 degrees offset from said first blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS fin-7655 

1. A TIMBER SCRIBING TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TAPERED HANDLE OF HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION AND PROVIDED WITH ONE OPEN WIDE END AND ONE SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED NARROW END, SAID OPEN WIDE END BEING INTERNALLY THREADED, A REMOVABLE KNURLED CAP PROVIDED WITH A PLUG PORTION HAVING EXTERNAL THREADS TO MATE WITH SAID INTERNALLY THREADED WIDE END, SAID SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED END BEING PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL APERTURE LEADING INTO THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF SAID HANDLE, A PIN RELEASABLY HELD IN SAID CENTRAL APERTURE WITH ONE END OF THE PIN EXTENDING INTO SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR AND THE OTHER END OF THE PIN PROJECTING FORWARDLY OF SAID HANDLE, SAID PIN BEING POINTED AT BOTH OF ITS ENDS, AT LEAST ONE SET-SCREW EXTENDING LATERALLY THROUGH A THREADED HOLE IN SAID CLOSED END AND RELEASABLY BEARING AGAINST SAID PIN, A CUTTING BLADE HAVING A CURVED CUTTING HEAD FORMING A DOUBLE CUTTING EDGE, SAID BLADE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID PIN, SAID BLADE HAVING ONE PORTION THEREOF SEATED IN A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID CLOSED END, AND A SECOND CUTTING BLADE HAVING A SIMILAR CURVED CUTTING HEAD, SAID SECOND BLADE HAVING ONE PORTION THEREOF SEATED IN A SECOND RECESS ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID CLOSED END AND EXTENDING ANGULARLY RELATIVE TO SAID PIN AND APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES OFFSET FROM SAID FIRST BLADE. 